New HR initiatives are helping the SSP Asia team to raise the pace

SSP’s track record in Asia is an impressive one, and the company’s progress has been strong and steady since it first began operating in the region nearly a quarter of a century ago. Today, the opportunities presented by the Asia Pacific area remain among the most abundant in the global market, and SSP has ambitious plans to continue to develop its operations as the economies of the region continue to expand at unparalleled rates.

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SSP and the Montreux Jazz Foundation have agreed an exclusive deal to open a number of Montreux Jazz Cafés at travel locations across the world. At least ten outlets are expected to be opened by the end of the ten year contract. Commenting on the deal, SSP CEO Andrew Lynch said; ‘The Montreux Jazz Café has proven ideally suited to the travel market. Offering a great menu served in an exciting and  entertaining environment, it is the perfect place to spend some time at the airport.’ Festival founder Claude Nobs believes SSP’s ability to take great brands and turn them into popular and commercially successful operations in the demanding travel environment makes it the best choice of partner for this venture. ‘The reputation of our brand is of crucial importance to us at the Montreux Jazz  Foundation. SSP has demonstrated it can present our brand in a way that enhances that reputation, bringing the thrill of the festival to an even greater audience.’

Among the new locations where the brand is set to make an appearance in the future is one of the iconic stations of Paris. The brand will be particularly well suited to the French market, where jazz has long been part of the cultural fabric of the country. The new outlet will capture the authentic atmosphere of the festival while also retaining the architectural character of the historic
location. It will offer a specially crafted menu that that is familiar and attractive to the French consumer, featuring a number of the café’s classic dishes. This latest agreement follows the successful operation of the existing restaurants at two of the world’s leading airports (Geneva and Sydney) and the announcement of the plan to open a third in December this year in Zurich.

The first Café opened at Geneva airport in 2008, and quickly established a reputation as not only a great restaurant, but also a venue for music fans. During the festival,  travellers visiting the café are able to watch concerts just a few hours after they have taken place at the Stravinski Auditorium or the  Miles Davis Hall. The café also hosts a number of live music events throughout the year.  The café at Geneva serves a high quality casual  dining menu developed in partnership with leading chef Gilles Dupont, and incorporating signature  dishes inspired by Claude Nobs’ favourite artists and their best known work. These include the BB cheeseburger, crispy shrimps with a wasabi tartar sauce and fried noodles, or Vienna turkey piccata served with lemon.

For those looking to chill with friends on a spa break to families in search of some high-octane fun, a Center Parcs village is the perfect place to get away from it all. Now there’s even more reason to visit. SSP, which has been operating at Center Parcs since 2007, is taking  over the operation of an additional eight existing food and beverage outlets across all four Center Parcs villages, with an agreement to develop a number of additional concepts for new location Woburn, which will open in 2013.

 Nathan Wall, Managing Director of SSP UK Air, said; ‘I’ve been a visitor to Center Parcs for over 20 years, so it’s particularly satisfying for me to be  involved with the parcs on a professional basis now too. Our new operations will showcase our excellent fast casual and casual dining brands including Dexters, which we already operate very successfully at Bristol Airport.’

Rail Gourmet has agreed a new deal with Eurostar to operate its CAV (logistics) operations, based at London Waterloo, London St Pancras and Ebbsfleet stations.

 The new venture began during particularly heavy snow fall in the UK, and the SSP team rose to the challenge according to Arnaud Masson, Head of On-Board Services for Eurostar. ‘I am really pleased how the start-up has gone, especially given the challenging conditions and I’m delighted that we started our working relationship in such a positive manner.’

SSP’s Helsinki operations set new standards.

SSP Finland has an enviable reputation for innovation, and the latest news from Helsinki confirms the SSP team’s outstanding capacity to take a lead when it comes to passenger-pleasing initiatives.

A new lounge planned for the airport will offer travellers a new genre of sanctuary as they wait for their flights, as SSP Finland MD Kalle Ruuskanen explains: ‘People at airports are far away from the security of home – both physically and mentally.  Lounge guests are among the most sought after of all passengers.  Yet often what they are offered when they get to an airport lounge can be very formal and cold, making them feel anything but welcome.  Our new lounge will provide passengers with some of the comforts of home.’ More …

SSP is platinum sponsor of the FAB Awards

SSP is to be a platinum sponsor of the first ever Airport Food and Beverage (FAB) Conference and Awards. The event, which is run by leading travel retail publication The Moodie Report, will be hosted by Manchester Airport on 23–25 January 2011.  SSP is to sponsor the Gala Dinner at the event. More …

SSP tops the charts at Hong Kong International Airport

SSP’s units at hong Kong International Airport took the top slots in the airport authority’s latest Customer Service Competition. More …

The team from SSP America went home from this year’s ARN awards ceremony with a clutch of prizes. More …

SSP outlets named favourites by cult listings magazine

Four out of the five restaurants selected as the best for airport dining at Hong Kong International Airport by Time Out are run by SSP. More …

SSP airport partners take top honours in major international poll

Airports at which SSP runs the food and beverage operations have once again featured prominently among the winners in this year’s World Travel Awards. More …